I have always considered myself intertwined into art. Whether it’s been painting, drawing, photography, writing, or performing, I have always felt at home in the arts.
When I started my path to being a teacher, I had to take elementary education classes and in one, we studied Eric Carle. I fell in love with his collage-art style and started making my own collages. My favorite is an eye (below) I made using construction paper scraps from my students arts and crafts.
For class this week, we made our personal history collage, and it made me think, “who am I?”
Here is my personal collage:
I want to start by explaining the photos.
Top left and middle right- I love music. My boyfriend and I have our own love languages, but music is something we share. I make a point to go to at least 2 concerts a year, if not more. Music is my escape. When the world is crumbling or my life is excelling, music magnified my emotions or becomes my escape.
Top middle and middle left- I am adopted, but I lived with my biological family for 8 years and still talk to some of them today. A big part of my biological family is our heritage. My family is “Cheromanian.” That is the fun word we made for our culturally blended family. My moms family is a part of the Eastern Band of Cherokees. My maternal grandparents met on the reservation and lived there until my mom came along and then they moved to Wyoming. When I was on the way, they moved back and had me outside of the reservation because my fathers beliefs and culture was different and some other chaos and what not. My dads family is Romanian. I have fallen in love with the culture and have tried to learn more about it since my dad passed last year. Interesting fact - most people assume “Romani” is the same as Romanian, and assume “gypsies” (please don’t use this term) are from Romania. However, Romani came from India mostly, and only 8% of the Romanian population is Romani.
Top Right - I have learned to love myself. I am okay with who I am today, however, I know that I am a better person when my better half, my best friend, my partner, my love is by my side. I love being Austin’s partner and I love when I get to take care of him or cook for him. Not every person likes that, and there is no right or wrong way to love, but I show my love by acts of kindness, and I absolutely love getting to love him.
Middle - I am a survivor and as a teacher, I try to advocate for any of my students who feel like they are unsafe, in dangerous relationships, or have no choice. It is an extremely gray area and is not talked about enough, but when I was in school, I did not have teachers who were open with their students. When I was assaulted, everyone pointed fingers and victim blamed. My voice was taken and I was not given the choice to press charges or stand up for myself. If even one teacher had told me they could in some way relate to what I was feeling, so much would have been different. Because of the choices that were taken from me, I never want my students to suffer that way. I try to always be honest with them. They know when I am at a low. They know when my life is soaring. They know that I have trauma and I will never not tell my story. My choices were taken, but I want to live in a world where “My body, my choice” means something. I want my kids to be raised where they feel safe.
Bottom left - I love art. I began pour painting about 3 years ago and it is such a rush of serotonin for me. There is something calming and thrilling about the process and I want very much to get back into it soon!!
Bottom right - I believe everyone is entitled to their beliefs. I respect the beliefs of others, even if I do not necessarily agree with them. I grew up in the Appalachian Mountains and fell in love with nature. Both of my cultures have faith deeply rooted in nature and the more I dove into the histories of my family, the closer I became to nature. I am pagan and I know that my faith is considered taboo. I know the slander that is associated and the rumors that circulate. We are called demon worshippers, satanists, evil, etc., however, what many don’t understand is that a lot of us believe in God. We use our beliefs and faith in positive ways l, so don’t let a few bad seeds define us all.
prguitarman
romaincrisis
tangentwithtanner
theartofmadeline
turnnoffyourmind
jacobvanloon
germansingergirl